Shop America Alliance, the travel trade organization dedicated to promoting shopping, dining and cultural travel as the top tourism activities, is celebrating its 17th Anniversary as the leader in marketing shopping and dining tourism. Founded in 1998, Shop America (SAA) is a travel trade organization offering ongoing travel and tourism marketing support to its members and partners with programs that provide measurable ROI. The programs include partnerships, packaged tours development and sales, publishing, communications, research, public relations, meetings and events.

“Shopping tourism continues to provide exceptional economic benefits to all engaged. Shop America’s role is to provide essential information, key contacts and expanded opportunities for our partners to enhance their success,” said Rosemary McCormick, founder and President of Shop America Alliance.

Expanding into the cultural and heritage tourism arena in 2005, Shop America Alliance co-produced the US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Summit with the US Department of Commerce/OTTI in Washington, DC and co-founded the US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council (USCHT) in 2007. The strong correlation between shopping, dining and cultural & heritage tourism, as indicated by several research studies, led to more innovative collaborations including the ONE Travel Conference for Shopping, Dining and Cultural Tourism which was incorporated with the former Shop America Tourism Conference. Shop America president Rosemary McCormick’s book “Marketing Cultural & Heritage Tourism” was published by the Museum Store Association providing tools for increased effectiveness and developing partnerships. Shop America also co-publishes The Cultural Traveler guide annually in partnership with USCHT.

Shop America continues to grow its extensive network of partners to expand its marketing efforts including MasterCard Worldwide, US Travel Association, International Council of Shopping Centers, National Tour Association, Visit USA UK Committee, Discover America Canada, Mandala Research, Brand USA and US Department of Commerce/OTTI.